WARMINSTER, Pa. – As the summer months approach, police and corrections departments should address how increasing temperatures can compromise prisoner safety during transport. Proper ventilation within a transport unit will reduce department liability by maintaining a comfortable vehicle interior and by helping to prevent medical emergencies, such as heat stroke.

According to a study by the San Francisco State University’s Department of Geosciences, when ambient temperatures exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit, the interior of a vehicle can reach a potentially lethal temperature of 105 degrees in less than 20 minutes. As the ambient temperature rises to the mid-90s, a vehicle’s interior can hit 105 degrees in as little as five minutes.

Departments can prevent this hazardous environment with prisoner transport units that offer rear AC/heat vent adapter kits. These kits connect the unit to the OEM rear air conditioning vent for positive air flow. For over 20 years, Havis Inc. has manufactured customizable Kwik-Kit Prisoner Transport Systems, which offer these adapter kits among an array of safety features that minimize departments’ risk of liability.

Havis Kwik-Kit systems are built specifically to protect and assist officers while loading, transporting and unloading prisoners. The units feature a dual, heavy-duty “slam lock” that maximizes security by automatically locking the compartment when the door is shut. Seat dividers, non-slip benches and grab straps help prisoners stay safely seated during transport.

In addition to these standard features, departments should consider additional safety options, including video camera and intercom systems, a rear flip-down step for prisoners in leg shackles, and meal pass-through doors for long-haul prisoner transit.

By investing in a dedicated prisoner transport vehicle, departments can save money and protect themselves against potential lawsuits. Specific vehicles assigned to the task of transporting and processing prisoners allows patrol cars to stay productive and on the road. Prisoner transport vehicles can also be utilized for moving barricades, cones, bikes or large evidence.

With a potential product life of more than 10 years, the Havis Kwik-Kit may outlast the service life of its vehicle. Departments can reduce the cost of replacing the vehicle by transferring their existing Kwik-Kit unit into the new van. To ease this process, these units are bolted, not welded, into the vehicle for easy removal and installation.

The containment unit used must combine strength, durability and lighter weight in order to achieve minimum stress on the van chassis. Transport units built with heavier materials, like steel, will wear down brakes and lower gas mileage. Every Havis Kwik-Kit is constructed primarily of aluminum and finished with a white powder coat to prevent rust and allow for thorough cleaning.

Due to its specific purpose, a dedicated prisoner transport vehicle is easily customized to meet the needs of its department. For example, the configuration of a versatile Havis Kwik-Kit is based on the number of desired compartments and the maximum number of passengers a department would need to transport.

Since transporting prisoners can be an unpredictable and potentially dangerous task, transport vehicles must be equipped with a unit designed to protect officers, inmates and the general public. Havis strives to minimize the risks of injury and liability with its secure and comfortable Kwik-Kit Prisoner Transport System. For more information on Havis Prisoner Transports, and to build your own prisoner transport unit online, please visit http://www.havisprisonertransport.com.

About Havis
Havis Inc. is a privately held company that manufactures in-vehicle mobile office solutions for public safety, public works, government agencies and mobile professionals. For over 80 years, the Havis mission has been to increase mobile worker productivity with industry-leading products that are built to the highest safety and quality standards and are designed with comfort in mind. Headquartered in Warminster, Pa., with an additional location in Plymouth, Mich., Havis currently employs 175 people. For more information on Havis, please call 1-800-524-9900 or visit www.havis.com.

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